Those of you who enjoy field trip accounts should check out the December 2008 issue of SCARABS. The lead article – authored by your’s truly – is a scarabcentric travelogue of an insect collecting trip I took to South Africa several years ago. Scarabs?!, you say? Well, even though I focus on bups, ‘bycids, and tigers (some would argue that actually demonstrates lack of focus), I never pass on the opportunity to collect “cool” insects of all types when traveling somewhere as “exotic” as Africa – and scarabs are definitely cool! Still, I did manage to sneak past the editors a few words and pictures about buprestids, one of the more impressive of which I offer here as further enticement. You can also read about heart attacks, flying Tonka trucks, and evil minions.

Previous issues of this fine newsletter can be found here (Coleopterists Society website under “Resources”) and here (University of Nebraska State Museum website under “Scarab Beetle Research”). For those really interested in scarab newsletter history, archives of a previous incarnation – SCARABAEUS – can be found here and here at the same websites.

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About Ted C. MacRae

Ted C. MacRae is a research entomologist by vocation and beetle taxonomist by avocation. Areas of expertise in the latter include worldwide jewel beetles (Buprestidae) and North American longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae). More recent work has focused on North American tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) and their distribution, ecology, and conservation.

9 Responses to “Dungers and Chafers – a Trip to South Africa”

Thanks for the link. I did not know about the society magazine. I downloaded the issue 34 and read part of the article before I saved it for later enjoyment. This is great. I’ll download them all for a long winter’s night enjoyment.

Great photos and story. Congratulations on the story publication.

Many years ago, Martha and I went with a Nature group to Costa Rica. One day while Martha was off with the “Ant” group, I went with the “Dung Beetle” group. We had a great time and found lots of poop, specimens, rollers, and diggers. Even though it was 25 years ago, I remember it vividly.

Yea, Troy – that was quite a trip, one of the best I’ve had. I found SCARABS about a year ago and printed them all out (double-sided). I read them all during travel and am having them bound in volumes – it’s a really great newsletter.

Thanks for your comment on my photography, but I dare not try to give you advice on dealing with glare when there are so many other much more capable photographers to ask. Alex Wild is the first that comes to mind, as he has some very nice articles on macro photographic techniques. Clay Bolt and Chris Wirth are two other very good macrophotographers that frequent this site. I think they’ll probably suggest a light box with flashes pointed to a very diffuse reflective material. I just wait for a bright overcast day 🙂
regards–ted

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